Trump Family Negotiates Acquisition of Binance.US Stake; Discussion Includes CZ Pardon

# Trump Family in Talks to Acquire Stake in Binance.US **New York (By Jaehyung Park, Staff Correspondent)** – Reports indicate that President Donald Trump's family is negotiating to acquire a stake in Binance.US. Additionally, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) is reportedly seeking a pardon from President Trump. ## Binance Seeks Reentry into U.S. Market The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 13th, citing sources, that Binance engaged with Trump's camp last year to discuss cooperation for reentering the U.S. market. Should the negotiations succeed, the Trump family could possess a stake in Binance.US either directly or through the cryptocurrency venture “World Liberty Financial,” which launched last September. Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East and Ukraine negotiations advisor, is also said to be part of these discussions. However, a U.S. government official has denied Witkoff's involvement, stating he has distanced himself from business interests. ## CZ Requests Pardon from Trump In 2023, Binance agreed to pay $4.3 billion in fines for anti-money laundering violations. Changpeng Zhao acknowledged the charges and served a four-month sentence, after which he relocated to Abu Dhabi. Binance considers CZ’s pardon essential for its return to the U.S. market. Recently, MGX, a state-owned investment firm from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), invested $2 billion in Binance, marking the exchange's first institutional investment. ## Binance.US Market Share Plummets Binance.US, valued at $4.5 billion in 2022, has seen its market share plunge from 27% to around 1%. U.S. regulators have highlighted Binance's support of transactions with sanctioned entities and its provision of regulatory avoidance methods for American users. Meanwhile, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) civil lawsuit against Binance and Binance.US has been temporarily halted, pending the development of a new cryptocurrency regulatory framework.